Control mechanism for machine tools



Feb. 28, 1950 N 2,499,152

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MACHINE TOOLS Original Filed Jan. 50; 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z30\ 23/\ 2/5 245 z/sr 23/, L- J 2/ 7 44 INVENTOR 2z5 .24/ EVERETT K. MORGAN 2 343 242 BY I v Z/ 7 '60 226 6 W v 233 2/6 2/2 6 2/3 A T TORNE KS Feb. 28, 1950 Original Filed Jan. 30, 1943 E. K. MORGAN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MACHINE TOOLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /68 \SOL-I- /ez /69 A in 1 51;. 37

I I i g A fig INVENTOR fI ERETT A. MORGAN A TTOP/VEVS Patented Feb. 28, 1950 coN'rnoL mscnm sgiron MACHINE Everett K. Morgan, Fond du Lac, Wis., assignor to Giddings 8; Lewis Machine Tool 00., Fond du Lac, Wis.,.a corporation of Wisconsin Original application January 30, 1943, Serial No. 474,068. Divided and this application October 18, 1946, Serial No. 704,068

4 Claims. (CI. 14-413) The invention relates to control mechanism for machine tools, and more particularly to mechanism for manually controlling the operating functions of such machines.

This application is a division of my copendin Joint application with Hans B. Kraut and Keith F. Gallimore, Serial No. 474,068, filed January 30, 1943, now Patent No. 2,426,621, issued September 2, 1947.

One object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism by which a plurality of different operations of a machine tool may be accurately controlled through the medium of a single control element, thereby simplifying the work of the machine attendant and increasing the productive capacity of the machine.

Another object is to provide improved control mechanism by which both the direction of movement and the speed of a machine tool element may be accurately controlled by manipulation of a single hand lever.

A further object is to provide improved limit stop means for manual control mechanisms of the above general character.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the machine tool embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the machine.

Fig. 3' is a diagrammatic view of a part of the gearing of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the control mechanism taken in a vertical plane substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken in a vertical plane substantially 'on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. I

By way of illustration, the improved control mechanism has been shown in a machine tool of the type commonly known as a horizontal boring machine. The exemplary machine comprises an elongated bed 30 (Figs. 1 and 2) having horizontal ways on its upper face for supporting and guiding a reciprocable table or platen 45. An upright column 4| rising from one end of the platen 45 is formed with ways for supporting and guiding a vertically reciprocable spindle headstock 49, which may be of conventional construction.

Power driven means is provided for traversing the platen 45 along the ways in either direction and at selected feeding rates. Traversing of the platen is efiected by means of a feed screw 49 (Fig. 3) adapted to be driven by a speed change mechanism 50. The feed screw is supported in the machine bed below the platen and cooperates with the nut 5| secured to the platen. Provision is also made for feeding the headstock 40 up and down at selected feeding rates through the medium of a vertically disposed feed screw H9 (Fig. 1) coacting with a feed nut I20 secured to the headstock. The feed screw H9 is, in this instance, driven by the speed change mechanism 50 through the medium of a splined driving shaft I22 extending longitudinally of the machine bed and having a conventional driving connection with the feed screw.-

The speed change mechanism as herein shown comprises a variable speed reversible hydraulic transmission unit I62 of any suitable type. The transmission has a power inlet or driven shaft I63 and an outlet or driving shaft I64. The inlet shaft is directly coupled with the shaft of an electric motor M and is driven continuously thereby at a uniform speed and in one direction when the machine is in use. The motor and the hydraulic unit may be conveniently mounted on the back wall of the machine bed, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Hydraulic transmissions of the type herein shown are commonly equipped with means 'for controlling the direction of rotation and the speed of the outlet shaft. In the case of the transmission I62, the direction of rotation of the outlet shaft I64 is controlled by a pair of solenoids SOL-l and SOL2 (Fig. 2) acting through suitable valves or the like (not shown). The arrangement is such that the shaft is driven in one direction, for example clockwise, when the solenoid SOLI is energized, and in the reverse direction, or counterclockwise, when. both solenoids SOL-I and SOL2 are energized. The speed of rotation of the outlet shaft is regulated by a shiftable plunger I66 operating through appropriate control mechanism enclosed in a casing I61 mounted on the top of the transmission unit.

Provision'is made for connecting the outlet shaft I64 of the transmission unit with either the platen feed screw 49 or with the spllned shaft I22 for either high speed or low speed operation. The means for effecting the speed range selection includes two-speed gearing and clutch means enclosed in a housing I68 set in a recess in the machine bed 30, as shown in Fig. 2. A coupler I69, of any suitable type, connects the outlet shaft I64 with a shaft I (Fig. 3) journaled in the housing I66 and having'on its inner end an elongated pinion III. A cluster gear I12 arranged to slide longitudinally of the pinion has 'a large gear element I13 in constant mesh with the pinion and a smaller gear element I14 adapted to mesh with a gear I15 fast on a shaft I16 upon movement of the cluster gear to the lo speed position.-

The shaft I16 has a small diameter pinion I" in constant mesh with a large diameter idler gear I18 and is adapted to be drivingly engaged with the gear element I13 when the cluster gear is shifted to high speed position. Both gear elements of the cluster gear-are disengaged and the drive is interrupted when the cluster gear is set in the central or neutral position in which it is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In the exemplary machine the cluster gear is adapted to be shifted by the hand lever I81 (Fig. 1) through the medium of a suitable linkage (not shown).

The idler gear I18 is arranged to drive a gear I9I rigid with an elongated pinion I92. An axially slidable clutch gear I93 in constant meshclutch gear.

Through the medium of the gearing above described, the transmission I62 may be conditioned to drive either the platen feed screw 49 or the headstock feed shaft I22 through either of two selected speed ranges. The direction of movement of the machine elements and their rate of movement within either of the two-speed ranges is controlled by direct adjustment of the transmission unit I62. The invention provides control mechanism of a novel and advantageous character by which such adjustments may be effected by manipulation of a single conveniently accessible hand lever. The ease and accuracy of control thus provided materially simplifies the work of the machine attendant and substantially increases the productive capacity of the machine. In the case of large machines, such as the exemplary machine, duplicate control members may be provided at two or more stations so that the attendant can exercise full control over the machine while remaining at the most advantageous position for observing the operation being performed.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, the speed and direction control mechanism in its preferred form comprises a control unit 2I0 mounted on the front wall of the machine bed 36 at a conveniently located point, as, for example, adjacent the head end of the bed. Additional units may be mounted at other locations according to the particular requirements of the machine involved. Such additional units are substantially identical in construction to the unit 2 I6 and all are mechanically coupled, as will appear presently.

The control unit 2I0, as shown in Fig. 4, comprises a generally cylindrical housing 2 having an eccentrically located. rearwardly extending hub portion 2I2 rotatably supported in a panel 2I3 adapted to be bolted or otherwise removably secured over a flanged opening H4 in the front wall of the bed 39, The body of the housing 2 engages the front wall of the panel and a gear element 2I5 secured to the inner end of the hub 2I2 as by a set screw 2I6 engages the rear wall of the panel to hold the housing against axial movement while permitting it to rotate free] in the panel.

Extending through the housing 2 and the hub portion 2I2 is an axial bore 2Il connecting witih a traverse bore 2 I 8 in the body of the housing. A cylindrical plunger 2I9 is slidably supported in the first mentioned bore and is held against rotation therein by a key 220 engaging in a keyway 22 I in the hub.

A single hand lever 222 is provided for reciproeating the plunger and for rocking the housing about the axis of the hub. As herein shown, the hand lever is formed with a rigid ball 223 intermediate its ends adapted to set in a suitable socket formed in the housing 2| I. The ball is' retained in its socket by a retaining plate 224 fixed to the housing. The inner end of, the hand lever extends into the bore 2II and is provided with an enlarged head 225 engaging in a slot 226 in the plunger 2 I9. Preferably the slot 226 is dimensioned to receive the head 225 with a sliding fit so that the plunger may be shifted axially by rocking the hand lever toward or from the machine bed on the axis of the ball 223. This slot, however, prevents the rocking of the hand lever about the ball 226 in any other plane. Accordingly, the entire housing responds when the lever is rocked in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine bed.

The rotative movements of the housing are utilized in this instance for controlling the direction of rotation of the outlet shaft of the transmission unit I62 and thereby control the direction of movement of the platen or the headstock and tailstock. As herein shown, the control is efiected through the medium of electrical switches including a forward switch FS (Fig. 5) and a reverse switch RS connected in the circuit with the solenoids SOL-I and SOL2. These switches may be of any suitable and well-known construction and are mounted on a rearwardly projecting flange of the panel 2I3 on opposite sides of the housing 2I I. For actuating the switches there is provided a control member or cam bar 236 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) slidably supported for axial or endwise movement in the panel flange below the switches RS and FS. Rack teeth 23I formed on one side of the bar engage with the teeth of the gear element 2I5 which, as previously stated, is fixed to the hub of the housing 2. Thus rocking of the housing is effective to shift the cam bar axially.

The oam bar 230 is formed with notches as shown in Fig. 5 to provide spaced cam surfaces positioned for coaction respectivel with the forward and reverse switches. The arrangement of the cam surfaces is such that movement of the bar in one direction is effective to close the forward feed switch FS while movement of the bar in the opposite direction closes both switches. Closure of the switches in the above manner energizes the solenoid SOL-I and SOL-2 selectively to set the transmission unit I 62 for angina gitudinally of the machine bed. This shaft is suitably journaled in bearingscarried by the panel 2|3 and carries a bevel gear 234 (Fig. l) meshing with a bevel gear 235 fast on the end of the horizontal shaft 236. The shaft 236 extends transversely of the machine bed to project at the rear thereof and is provided with a pinion 231 (Fig. 2) meshing with rack teeth formed on the speed adjusting plunger I66 of the transmission unit. Thus by rocking the shaft 236, the speed adjusting plunger may be In order to render a plurality of control units effective for control purposes, the cam bar 230 and shaft 233 are extended longitudinally of the machine bedand are operatively connected with the additional units in the same manner as above described for the unit 2ill. Thus, the direction control switches FS and RS and the speed control plunger I66 may be actuated by the hand levers of the other units in precisely the same manner as by the-hand lever 222.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides novel control mechanism bywhich both the direction and the speed of movement of amachine part may be conveniently controlled by manipulation of a single hand lever; The movements of the lever' are distinctive for each type of control, being in two different angularlyrelated planes, thus making it easy forthe attendant to effect the desired control without chance of confustion. The ease and accuracy of control thus afforded greatly facilities the operation of the machine and materially increases its productive capacity.

I claim as my invention:

1. Control mechanism comprising, in combination, an axially shiftable control member, a

gagement with the pinion 231 in opposed rela- 1 tion to the plunger I66. A spring 239 enclosed in a housing 240 urges the rack member to the right (as viewed in Fig. 2), thus yieldably biasing the speed control plunger I66 and the associated control mechanism toward a stop position.

In order to prevent the drive from being entirely stopped when the hand lever is released, means is provided for limiting the extent to which the control member can be returned by the action of the spring 239. As herein shown,

the means provided for this purpose comprises a movable abutment in the form of a stop screw 2 (Fig. 4) positioned for coaction with the plunger H9. The stop screw is threaded into a nut 242 rotatably supported in antifriction bearings at the outer end of the bore 2 in the housing 2 and is held against rotation by having its inner end 243 squared and slidably entered in a complementary socket inthe adjacent end of the plunger M9. The squared end portion of the screw is of suflicient length to maintain engagement in'the socket in all positions of the plunger and screw and the head 225 has an opening 244 to receive the extended end 243 when the parts are brought together, as shown in the drawing. Since the screw is non-rotatable it is apparent that rotation of the nut 242 will be effective to shift it axially and thus determine the limit position of the plunger 2l9.

Suitable means is provided for rotating the nut 242 to set the stop screw in position to establish a desired feed rate. In the preferred form shown, this means comprises a knob 245 rotatably supported on the front end of the housing 2| l. The. knob is formed with a flange or skirt portion 246 adapted to extend over the outer end of the nut, the skirt-having internal gear teeth 24'! meshing with external gear teeth 248 formed on the nut. Thus, by rotating the knob 245, the stop screw 2 may be shifted in or out as required for any operation. The knob may be suitably calibrated, of course, to indicate the setting of the stop screw.

rotatable control member, a common actuator for said members including a rotatably supported housing, a gear fast on said housing engaging rack teeth formed on said axially shiftable control member, a plunger slidable in an axial bore in said housing, rack teeth formed on said plun-' ger engaging gear teeth formed in said rotatable control member, a hand lever operable to rotate said housing and to reciprocate said plunger selectively, an adjustable stop means carried by said housing and positioned'to limit the range of movement of said plunger in one direction, and a member rotatably supported on said housing operable manually to adjust the position of said stop.

2. Control mechanism comprising, in combination, an axially shiftable control member, a rotatable control member, a common actuator for said members including a rotatably supported housing, a gear fast on said housing engaging rack teeth formed on said axially shiftable control member, a plunger slidable in an axial bore in said housing, rack teeth formed on said plunger engaging gear teeth formed in said rotatable control member, a hand lever carried by said connection with the plunger, and means car-- ried by said housing for rotating said nut member to adjust the position of said stop screw.

3. Control mechanism comprising, in combination, an axially shiftable control member, a rotatable control member, a common actuator for said members including a rotatably supported housing, a gear fast on said housing engaging rack teeth formed on said axially shiftable control member, a plunger slidable in an axial bore in said housing, rack teeth formed on said plunger engaging gear teeth formed in said rotatable control member, a handlever carried by said housing for rotating the same, said hand lever being supported for pivotal movement relative to the housing and operative in such movement to reciprocate said plunger, a nut member rotatably supported On said housing in axial alinement with said plunger, a stop screw threaded in said nut member and having a non-rotatable con-- means .for said members including a rotatably supported housing, cooperating means on said axially shiftable member and said housing for imparting axial movement to the member in response to the rotation of said housing, a plunger slidable in an axial bore in said housing, co-

acting means on said plunger and said rotatable control member for rotating the latter in response to axial movements of the plunger, a hand lever operable to rotate said housing and to reciprocate said plunger selectively, adjustable stop means for said plunger including a nutrotatably supported on said housing, a screw threaded into said nut and presenting an abutment in the path of said plunger, cooperating means on the plunger and said screw for restraining the latter against rotation with said nut, and means for rotating said nut.

EVERETT K. MORGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED ST ES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,826,906 Townsend Oct. 13, 1931 2,001,987 'Sykes May 21, 1935 2,011,068 Miner Aug. 13, 1935 2,297,422 Mobins Sept. 29, 1942 2,348,265 Rippingille May 9, 1944 

